Just Cleaned Up , Organized, and Updated The London Opening page on the Sidebar.
- Added some New Guides and Articles
- Added New Opening Lesson Video Playlist (From GM Aman Hambleton)
- Added links to The Chessgames.com and 365Chess pages of London games
- Added Some New Annotated game Videos and 2 Playlists of 70+ Annotated Game Videos
- Added Highlighted Links To The Following Pages There Now
- Link To Jobava London Opening Page
- Link To Anti-London Page
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Updated London Page
Monday, December 26, 2022
The Trompowsky Attack: A Complete Guide to White's Aggressive Weapon A45
"The aim of chess is not only to attack your opponent's king, but also to force him to defend badly." - Aron Nimzowitsch |
The Trompowsky Attack
Unleash Chaos on your Opponent
Want to ditch complex opening theory and unleash aggressive, surprising play on your opponent?
Look no further than the Trompowsky Attack!
This exciting opening, played with the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5, offers White a unique path to victory:
- Disrupt Black's Development: White's early bishop development targets Black's knight, potentially forcing a trade that creates doubled pawns for Black. This disrupts their development and creates imbalances in the position.
- Fight for the Center: The Trompowsky often leads to dynamic positions where White can vie for control of the center and launch a quick attack.
- Sharp and Unpredictable: By bypassing common opening lines, the Trompowsky can throw your opponent off balance and create opportunities for tactical brilliance.
Whether you're a beginner seeking a dynamic weapon or an experienced player looking to surprise your rivals, the Trompowsky Attack can be a valuable addition to your chess arsenal. This comprehensive guide compiles the best resources to master the Trompowsky Attack, from articles and video lessons to puzzles and interactive studies.
Books & Courses (Free)
FREE Chessable Courses
- Short & Sweet: The Trompowsky - -23 Trainable variations w/59 Min Video - FM Kamil Plichta- Learn a full opening repertoire with 20 core lines and a 59-minute video guide. Perfect for beginners looking for a structured approach.
- Trompowsky Tactics - 123 Chess Tactics you can train - 81 puzzles for White, and 42 for Black. Sharpen your tactical skills with puzzles specifically designed for the Trompowsky Attack, including variations for both White and Black from Chess Miniatures.
- Trample the Trompowsky - 36 Variations to Learn and play against Trompowsky - This repertoire for Black recommends an easy-to-remember setup aimed at controlling the center (d5, c5) and exploiting opportunities where White delays or avoids capturing on f6.
- Short & Sweet: Pseudo Trompowsky - 30 Trainable Variations w/64 Min Video -Master the fundamentals of the Pseudo-Trompowsky, a related opening with similar ideas, in just a few hours through 30 core lines and a 64-minute video.
Trompowsky Chess Articles
This section dives into the Trompowsky Attack's rich history, key variations, and strategic ideas.
- Try the Dangerous Trompowsky Attack Today - Chessable Blog Guide (Very Detailed) Master the Trompowsky for White and Black with this in-depth guide - perfect for players of all levels.
- Trompowsky Attack -IM Alberto Chueca -Explore theory, strategic concepts, and typical plans for White with this comprehensive resource.
- Playing Against The Trompowsky: A Standard Response - WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos - Learn how to handle White's aggression with 3 different responses w/ game analysis to play against the Trompowsky.
Trompowsky LiChess Studies
Explore interactive training tools to solidify your understanding of the opening's concepts.
- The Trompowsky Attack - 7 Chapter Study (Detailed) (189 Hearts) - 6 different 2nd Move Lines Explored.
- Trompowsky Attack - 9 Chapter Interactive Study - This 9-chapter interactive study lets you explore different lines, from the engine line to different sidelines. (Test your understanding!)
- Lifetime Repertoire Trompowsky - 14 Chapter Study - (102 Hearts)Quickstart Guide also featuring analysis and plans for 13 key Trompowsky lines.
- Trompowsky Attack: 2.. Ne4 - 7 Chapter Study - This comprehensive 7-chapter study explores various lines, including the Main Line and responses to Black's 2...Ne4 (Edge, Bf4, Raptor variations). (Great for a deep dive!)
LiStudy Training Page
(LiChess Movetrainer) -
Sharpen your skills with training sets focused on specific Trompowsky Attack variations, including lines from Hanging Pawns and those inspired by GothamChess' 10-minute Trompowsky video. (For targeted practice!)- Trompowsky Attack by Hanging Pawns - 8 Lines To Practice here
- Trompowsky Attack - 11 Lines to Practice here (Created from Gotham Chess 10 Min Trompowsky Video)
- Torre Attack Model games - 8 games
New to Lichess studies? They are a fantastic way to learn chess concepts and variations move-by-move. You can test your understanding, explore different lines, and deepen your knowledge of the Trompowsky Attack at your own pace.
Trompowsky Puzzles
Test your tactical skills with puzzles specifically designed for the Trompowsky Attack.
LiChess Openings Puzzles:
- Trompowsky Attack - 2772 Puzzles (All Variations): Dive into a massive pool of 2772 puzzles covering the entire spectrum of Trompowsky Attack variations. (For a comprehensive challenge)
Individual Variations:
- Trompowsky Attack: Classical Defense - 754 Puzzles
- Trompowsky Attack: Raptor Variation - 174 Puzzles
- Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation - 172 Puzzles
- Trompowsky Attack: Borg Variation - 60 Puzzles
Games Databases
Examining real Trompowsky Attack games is a fantastic way to see how theory translates into practice. Here are some curated databases to get you started:
Chessgames.com (Collections)
- Black plays 2... d5 against Trompovsky - Analyze 28 games where Black challenges White's bishop with an early pawn push.
- Defending against the Trompowski - Learn from Black's perspective with 8 games showcasing various defensive strategies.
- A45 Winning Games (White) - Explore 15 Trompowsky victories for White, seeing how they capitalized on the opening's advantages.
- General Trompowsky Games - Browse 20 well-played Trompowsky games to gain a broad understanding of the opening's flow.
- Famous Trompowsky Attack Games - Immerse yourself in 14 classic Trompowsky battles featuring renowned chess players.
ChessTempo.com
- Trompowsky Attack, General (A45) - 28,078 Games
- Trompowsky Attack, Raptor Variation (A45) - 1626 games
365chess.com
Tip: When using these databases, you can filter the games by player rating, year, and specific variations to target your learning goals.
Trompowsky Opening Video Lessons
Learn from chess masters in video tutorials that explain the Trompowsky key ideas and strategies.
Playlists
- Trompowsky - Opening Series - 8 Video Series - 90+ Min - Palm Beach Chess NM Bryan Tillis - This video series focuses on how to play the Trompowsky Attack for white.
- Trompowsky Attack Opening Theory - 7 Video opening Series - 3.5 Hrs - Hanging Pawns - Here you can find all ideas, plans and variations explained in detail for both white and black.
CRUSH People With The Trompowsky Attack! - 34 Min Gotham Chess - The Trompowsky Attack, a great opening for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players. Covering theory/strategy and games.
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Trompowsky Attack! - 27 Min The Chess Giant - In this beginners chess lesson, we hope to show that by playing this chess opening, you can improve at chess quickly and use chess opening tricks and traps to win games fast.
The Tromp-Wall Attack | Complete Guide - 46 Min Chess Dojo - A blueprint for playing the Tromp-Wall Attack, a hybrid system merging the Trompowsky & Stonewall openings.
Trompowski Attack: Typical Ideas for White - 17 Min Remote Chess Academy
The Trompowsky Attack Played by Julian Hodgson - 17 Min Remote Chess Academy
Vaganian Gambit - The Trompowsky Attack - 32 Min GM Boris Alterman
Starting Out: Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) - 6 Min - GM Max Illingworth - In-depth guide to the Trompowsky Attack. Strategies for white to gain a comfortable advantage by avoiding the King’s Indian Defense and creating double pawns for black. Various responses from black are discussed and emphasizes strategic play.
The Trompowsky Attack! IM John Watson on the basics of this opening - 38 Min - Watson explains the basics of the opening, its strategic content, and provides a repertoire for both inexperienced and advanced players.
Trompowsky - Levitsky Attack with IM Milovan Ratkovic - 33 Min
Black Vs. Trompowsky
- Easily Destroy Trompowsky Players!! - 42 Min IM Miodrag Perunovic - A comprehensive guide on how to counter the Trompowsky Attack in chess, focusing on strategies with the black pieces
- How to Destroy Everyone with The Trompowsky Attack!! - 14 Min IM Miodrag Perunovic - The aggressive h4 move, also known as the Raptor Attack, and highlights the achievements of Grandmaster Igor Miladinovic with this line.
GM Nadia Kosintseva
Variations that I am going to show you from the black's point of view are not the main lines, but still solid and, what's also good, do not require a lot of memorization on your side.
- Facing the Trompowsky and London Systems as Black 1 of 5 - 5 Min
- Facing the Trompowsky and London Systems as Black 2 of 5 - 5 Min
- Facing the Trompowsky and London Systems as Black 3 of 5 - 5 Min
- Facing the Trompowsky and London Systems as Black 4 of 5 - 5 Min
- Facing the Trompowsky and London Systems as Black 5 of 5 - 5 min
Trompowsky Chess Traps
Trompowsky Levitsky Attack - The Levitsky Trap (trap no. 974) - 4 Min
Trompowsky Levitsky Attack - Baltic Hodgeson Levitsky Red Herring Trap (trap no. 975)- 3 Min
0978 Trompowsky - The Trompowsky Poison - 3 Min
0976 Trompowsky The Levitsky Sucker Blow - 3 Min
Trompowsky - Winning on Move 3 (trap no. 988) - 3 Min
Trompowsky - The Gallagher Trap (trap no. 977) - 3 Min
Basic Opening Chess Trap | Trompowsky | Punished for developing queen too soon! - 3 Min
Chess Trap 8 (Trompowsky Attack) - 5 Min
Trap in the 1...d5 Trompowsky - 5 Min
Trompowsky Game Videos (w/Analysis)
Playlists
- Trompowsky Attack - 12 Video Playlist - Games from Carlsen to Stockfish - agadmator chess channel
- Trompowsky Attack - 30 Videos Playlist - Kingcrusher
- Trompowsky - 8 Video Playlist - Chessbase India
Grandmaster Simon Williams Plays Trompowsky Opening in Real Tournament - 35 Min
Breaking Down The Trompowsky Attack | King's Indian | Top Theory Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 33 min - He discusses various responses to the Trompowsky, emphasizing the move 1…d5 as an underrated but solid choice. Naroditsky plays through a game, explaining strategic concepts like the importance of controlling the center, the drawbacks of certain pawn moves, and how to exploit weaknesses in the opponent’s position.
Defeating an IM with the Trompowsky Attack! - 17 Min - GM Sipke Ernst analyses a game where he played the deadly Trompowsky Attack to defeat a strong International Master.
Friday, December 23, 2022
Mastering the Benoni Defense: Ultimate Chess Resources Guide
Benoni Defense
Crush White's d4 Dreams with Razor-Sharp Counterplay
The Benoni Defense is a bold and dynamic chess opening for Black, characterized by the moves:
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 c5
- 3. d5 e6
Named after Hungarian chess player Gyula Benoni, this opening offers Black sharp counterplay and leads to complex, unbalanced positions. Here's what you need to know:
- Strategic Aims: Black challenges White's center early, aiming for queenside counterplay and potential kingside attacks.
- Pawn Structure: The characteristic c5 pawn thrust creates tension in the center, often leading to a closed center with opposing pawn chains.
- Piece Activity: Black often develops the light-squared bishop to g7 (fianchetto), applying pressure on the long diagonal.
- Tactical Opportunities: The unbalanced nature of the position frequently leads to sharp tactical play and sacrificial attacks.
- Variations: The Benoni family includes the Modern Benoni, Czech Benoni, and the aggressive Benko Gambit, each with its own strategic nuances.
While considered slightly risky for Black, the Benoni Defense rewards precise play with dynamic counterattacking chances. It's favored by players who enjoy tactical, high-stakes chess and are willing to navigate complex middlegame positions.
Bishops Bounty Benko Gambit page
Bishops Bounty Czech Benoni Page
Books & Courses (Free)
Chessable Course (Free)
- Short & Sweet: Modern Benoni - Opening course by GM Mircea Parligras - with 29 Trainable Variations and 72 Min of Video - A weapon to give White a run for his money against 1.d4
- Short & Sweet: Alonso's Modern Benoni - GM Alvar Alonzo Rosell - 10 Variations w/ 39 Min of Video. 10 lines of the purest Modern Benoni repertoire to sample. You'll also get Alonso's unique descriptive move-by-move annotations.
Internet Archive
- 200 Modern Chess Traps In The Fianchetto Openings - by J.B.Howson (Page 69-89)
Benoni Chess Articles
Delve into the theory, history, and key variations of the Benoni Defense.
- Benoni Defense: Complete Guide - FM Zaur Tekeyev - Chess World Article - Nice Overview of all the Main variations, Modern, Snake, Czech, Benko and Classical w/ example Games.
- The Benoni defense - Article By Alberto Chueca (Simple with main ideas)
- The Velimirovic's Guide to the Modern Benoni - GM Gregory Serper - GM Dragoljub Velimirovic Games w/ Analysis (7 Games w/ several puzzles Included)
- Benoni Defense Guide - 365Chess.com - Ideas, Most Played moves, General Overview of the Variations and Links to Games in these Extensive Database.
- When White Avoids the Benoni: The Vaganian Gambit - GM Gregory Serper - A positional Gambit w/ a Kasparov game analyzed in great detail.
- A Modern Approach With the Benoni Defense - Chessable Blog Article w/ embedded Video
- Fighting the Benoni: The Remarkable Nh5 Idea - ChessWorld Article - In which situations should black seriously consider playing Nh5? 3 Famous Games including a Fisher Game w/ analysis.
Benoni LiChess Studies
Explore interactive training tools to solidify your understanding of the opening's concepts.
- The Benoni Defense - 32 Chapter Study (Very In-depth) - Some explanations of the main lines w/ many repertoire variations against many of Whites different Attacks.
- The Benoni Defense explained - 12 Chapter Study - Detailed Explanations of Variations.
- Deep Into the Benoni Defense - 18 Chapter Study - Detailed mainly about the Old Benoni
- Black Repertoire in the Benoni - 16 Chapter Study - Detailed Modern Benoni Variations
GAMES & DATABASES
Analyze real-life games featuring the Benoni Defense and see how it's played in practice.
- THE FORGOTTEN MODERN BENONI - GM Walter Browne vs GM Nick deFimnian
Played in the U. S. Championship, 1994. (Full Analysis ) - Magic in the Benoni Defense - ChessWorld.com - 3 games w/ Analysis of GM Vladamir Savon
- g3 Benoni by GM Magesh and GM Arun - Chess.com Article w/ 2 Games w/ analysis
Chessgames.com
- Benoni Defense (A56) - 4280 Games - Database
Collections- Benoni Defense - 24 games - Modern Benoni Defense great games from White and Black points of view.
- Tal the tactician -//- The benoni as black - 13 Games
- Instructive Benoni Defense Games - 10 Games - This collection is for instructive black wins in the Benon
- Benoni Defense - 24 games - Modern Benoni Defense great games from White and Black points of view.
365chess.com
- A43: Old Benoni defence 1. d4 c5 - 17,000 Games
- A56: Benoni defence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 - 54,600 Games
Benoni Chess PUZZLES
Test your tactical skills with puzzles specifically designed for the Benoni.
WTHarvey.com
- Old Benoni (ECO A43) - 50 Puzzles
- Old Benoni Defense (ECO A44) - 12 Puzzles
- Benoni Defense (ECO A56) - 34 Puzzles
- Benko Gambit (ECO A59) - 18 puzzles
- Benoni, Four Pawns Attack, Main line (ECO A69) - 8 Puzzles
- Benoni, Classical, 9.O-O (ECO A73) - 8 Puzzles
- LiChess Benoni Defense Puzzles - 7600 Puzzles
- ( Puzzles Openings Theme Page - Can be broken down into 12 Benoni Variations)
BENONI VIDEO Lessons
Playlists
- Benoni Defense Opening Theory - 6 Part Playlist - 4+ Hrs Hanging Pawns
- Czech Benoni - 13 Video Playlist (Short Videos to the point of Diff Lines and Middle-game Plans) - NM Bryan Tillis
Mostly covering the Modern Benoni
Understanding Your Openings | The Benoni Defence - 24 Min IM Andreas Toth - A mini lecture about the importance of pattern recognition in the opening/early middlegame in the Benoni structure!
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Benoni Defense! - 15 Min Chess Giant - Lesson on the Modern Benoni, which is the most popular variation at the Grandmaster level.
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Old Benoni Defense - 11 Min Chess Giant - The Old Benoni Defense is one of the best responses to d4 and in this video we cover the chess strategy, chess moves, chess ideas, chess principles, chess theory, chess traps, chess tricks, and a chess lesson.
NM Spencer Finegold
- The Modern Benoni Part 1: Vugar Gashimov with NM Spencer Finegold - 55 Min - Discusses several of Vugar Gashimov's wins as Black in the Modern Benoni.
- The Modern Benoni Part 2: Vugar Gashimov with NM Spencer Finegold - 58 Min
- The Modern Benoni Part 3: Nd2 and f3 Variations - 60 Min - Discusses 7.Nd2 as well as f3 variations White can play against the Modern Benoni.
Benoni Chess Traps
- Chess Traps - Old Benoni Trap - 8 Min
- Chess Trap 16 (Fischer's Trap in Modern Benoni) - 7 Min
- Dirty Chess Tricks 37 (Tricky line against Benoni Openings) - 16 Min
Chess 24 Lessons
- Great Games in the Benoni - Lessons on cochess.com - 74 Min WIM Sgircea|- An interactive chess lesson with her student and will answer questions from the chat.
- Test your Knowledge in the Benoni - lessons with WIM Raluca Sgircea - 74 Min - Looking at classical games and typical ideas and this time let's test our knowledge in the Benoni.
- Great games in the Benoni #3 | WIM Raluca Sgirea - 89 Min - Classical games and typical ideas
- Great games in the Benoni #4 | WIM Raluca Sgircea - 70 Min
- Play the Benoni Defense | Kestony | World Online Schools | Cochess.com - 56 Min - A stream on learning the Benoni.
St.Louis Chess Club
Jonathan Schrantz presents three Modern Benoni lectures.
- The Modern Benoni is No Baloney: Part 1 - Chess Openings Explained - 52 Min - Part 1 focuses on the Taimanov Attack variation.
- The Modern Benoni is No Baloney: Part 2 - Chess Openings Explained - 50 Min - Explores the classical and modern main lines of the Modern Benoni
- The Modern Benoni is No Baloney: Part 3 - Chess Openings Explained - 54 Min - Completes the Benoni trilogy with this walkthrough of the Fianchetto and Knight's Tour Variations of the Modern Benoni.
Game Videos w/ Analysis
Playlists
- Benoni Defence (includes Modern Benoni) - Chess Opening - 100 Game Playlist - Kingcrusher
- Benoni - 14 game Playlist - Chessbase India
FM Dennis Monokroussos - Tactics in the Benoni - 37 Min
Benoni is Back! | Xiong VS Caruana | US Championship 2018. - 10 Min
Boris Spassky vs Bobby Fischer - 1972 World Championship - Game 3 - Benoni - 9 Min
Mikhail Tal's sharpest Modern Benoni games - vs Averbakh - 20 Min
Mikhail Tal's most emphatic and crushing Modern Benoni games: Black vs Gurgenidze : USSR 1957 - 15 Min
Ponomariov vs Donchenko | Benoni Masterclass by Alexander Donchenko - 17 Min
Analyzing Benoni Games with Eric Rosen - 60 Min
Modern Benoni many years ahead of its time! || Alekhine vs Capablanca - 13 Min
Sacrifice in the Benoni | Journey to GM #14 - 13 Min GM Molton
Saturday, November 12, 2022
English Opening A10-A39
Conquer the English Opening:
Your Free Resource Arsenal
The English Opening (1. c4)
is a fantastic first move for White, offering flexibility and strategic possibilities.
This guide equips you with a treasure trove of FREE resources to master this dynamic opening, from beginner-friendly explanations to advanced variations.
A flank opening, it is the fourth most popular and, according to various databases, one of the four most successful of White's twenty possible first moves.
Opening theoreticians who write on the English Opening divide it into three broad categories, generally determined by Black's choice of defensive setup.
- Symmetrical Defence: 1...c5 ECO A30 - A39
- Reversed Sicilian 1...e5 ECO A20 - A29
- Other Lines ECO A10 - A19
ECO CODES
A10 English opening 1. c4
A11-A12 English, Caro-Kann defensive system 1. c4 c6
A13 English opening 1. c4 e6
A14 English, Neo-Catalan declined 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O
A15 English, 1...Nf6 (Anglo-Indian defense)1. c4 Nf6
A16 English opening 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3
A17 English opening 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6
A18-A19 English, Mikenas-Carls variation 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4
A20 English opening 1. c4 e5
A21 English opening 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3
A22 English opening 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6
A23-A24 English, Bremen system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6
A25 English, Sicilian reversed 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6
A26 English, closed system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6
A27 English, three knights system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3
A28-A29 English, four knights system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6
A30-A39 English, symmetrical variation 1. c4 c5
Bishop's Bounty - Reverse Sicilian (King's English) Page - A20-A29
Books & Courses (FREE)
Internet Archive
Flank Openings: A Study of Réti's Opening, The Catalan, English and King's Indian Attack Complex (Fourth Edition) by R. D. Keene - 193 page PDF
Starting Out The English McDonald, Neil - 61 Page PDF
English Opening CHESSABLE COURSES (Free)
Level up your English Opening game with FREE video-accompanied courses on Chessable. A unique learning platform that uses spaced repetition to help you master chess concepts and variations in a fun and effective way.
- Short & Sweet: Symmetrical English - IM David Vigorito - 24 Trainable Variations w/64 Min FREE Video
- Short & Sweet: Botvinnik English - IM Richard Palliser & by GM Simon Williams 24 Trainable Variations w/64 Min FREE Video
- Short & Sweet: Reversed Sicilian - GM Arturs Neiksans - 27 Tranable Variations with 67 Min Free Video
- Short & Sweet: Anti-English - GM Romain Edouard - 14 Trainable Variations w?22 Min FREE Video
These free courses offer in-depth analysis of various English Opening lines, presented alongside clear video instruction.
These free courses offer in-depth analysis of various English Opening lines, presented alongside clear video instruction.
English Opening Chess Articles
Free Resources to Empower Your English Opening:
- The English Opening - Simplify Chess Guide - This in-depth guide from Simplify Chess covers everything you need to know, from basic opening principles to aggressive attacking lines and effective ways to counter Black's defenses. Learn to play the English Opening with confidence!
- The Ultimate English Opening (1.c4) Guide - Chessable Blog -Delve deep into the English Opening with expert analysis, strategic insights, and more in this comprehensive guide from Chessable.
- The Ideas behind the English Opening - Exeter Chess Club - Explore the core strategic concepts behind this flexible opening.
English Opening LiChess Studies
LiChess Studies provides the perfect platform for interactive learning. Here, we've curated a selection of highly-rated LiChess studies to guide you through different aspects of this dynamic opening:
- The English Opening - 10 Chapter Study 1500 + hearts - This introductory study provides a solid understanding of the opening's core concepts with basic knowledge. It includes famous games and explores key traps to watch out for.
- English Opening Repertoire - 48 Chapter Study - This comprehensive repertoire, developed over 6 years, equips you with a complete strategy for playing the English. With 29 games, it delves deeper into variations and strategic ideas for a well-rounded approach, focusing on a "pure English" style that avoids transpositions into Queen's Gambit lines.
- The English Opening - 40 Chapter Study (Very Well Done) 500+ Hearts - This acclaimed study tackles the reversed Sicilian and symmetrical lines, along with exploring sidelines often encountered in practical play. It includes 5 model games to solidify your learning.
- English Opening - Four Knights - 9 Chapter Study - This focused study equips you with the specific move order (c4, Nc3, Nf3) leading to the Four Knights variation, a popular and dynamic line within the English Opening.
Trap Studies
We've included several LiChess studies dedicated to exposing traps commonly encountered in the English Opening. Hone your tactical vision with these interactive challenges:
- Traps Against English Opening - 8 Chapter Study
- Traps in English Opening - 6 Chapter Study
- 10 Traps in the English Opening - 11 Chapter Study 500+ Hearts
New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.
English Opening Chess Puzzles
(Practice Opening Tactics)
wtharvy.com (Curated from Actual games)
English Opening (ECO A10) - 24 Puzzles
English, Caro-Kann Defensive System (A11) 15 Puzzles
English with b3 (A12) - 10 Puzzles
English (A13) - 10 Puzzles
English (ECO A15) 1.c4 Nf6 w/o 2.Nc3 - 13 Puzzles
English (ECO A16) 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 w/o 2...e6 - 22 Puzzles
English, Hedgehog (ECO A17) - 15 Puzzles
English, Mikenas-Carls (ECO A18) - 6 Puzzles
English, Mikenas-Carls, Sicilian Variation (ECO A19) - 15 Puzzles
English (ECO A20) 1.c4 e5 w/o 2.Nc3 - 17 puzzles
English (ECO A21) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 - 11 Puzzles
English (ECO A22) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 - 9 Puzzles
English, Bremen System, Keres Variation (ECO A23) - 26 Puzzles
English, Bremen System with ...g6 (ECO A24) - 14 Puzzles
English (ECO A25) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 - 16 Puzzles
English (ECO A26) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 - 17 Puzzles
English, Three Knights System (ECO A27) - 14 Puzzles
English (ECO A28) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 - 18 Puzzles
English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto (ECO A29) - 19 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical (ECO A30) 1.c4 c5 - 10 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation (ECO A31) 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 - 21 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical Variation (ECO A32)1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 - 14 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical (ECO A33) 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 Nc6 - 10 puzzles
English, Symmetrical (ECO A34) 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 - 16 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical (ECO A35) 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 - 11 puzzles
English Symmetrical (ECO A36) 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 - 16 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical (ECO A37) 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 - 15 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical (ECO A38) 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nf6 - 9 Puzzles
English, Symmetrical, Main line with d4 (ECO A39) 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 - 18 Puzzles
LiChess Puzzles
LICHESS Opening Tactics Training - 24,400 English Tactics ( English is about 1/4 of the way down the page Broken into 16 Variations)
GAMES Databases
365Chess.com
English Opening Page (Page Showing variations)- 25,000 Games
ChessTempo.com
English Opening, Anglo-Dutch Defense (A10) - 6621 GamesEnglish Opening, Agincourt Defense (A13) - 11,886 Games
English Opening, Agincourt Defense, Neo Catalan Declined (A14) - 13,210 Games
Chessgames.com
English opening personal favourites = Collection 32 Games
English Annotated Collection 20 Games (Annotated)
Annotated English opening games 17 Games (Annotated)
English Opening Video Lessons
English Opening NM Robert Ramirez - 4 Video Playlist (75 Mins Total)
The Chess World - English Videos
- English Opening: Complete Repertoire for White with IM David Fitzsimons Mini-Course - 30 Min - : Complete Repertoire for White where he arms you with a custom build preparation tailored specifically for club players' needs!
- English Opening Mastermind Preview 1 - 21 Min - IM Milovan Ratkovic - Kings English Chapter 7 - Variation - Kramnick -Shirov Counterattack
- English Opening Mastermind Preview 2 - 28 Min - IM Milovan Ratkovic - Chapter 8 - Variation - Kramnick -Shirov Counterattack
- Opening Lab English Opening - Fianchetto Variation with FM Neustroev and GM Bocharov - 34 Min - reveals his entire repertoire against the English in cooperation with GM Bocharoiv - in the new Open Lab course: Beating English with Black.
The English Opening: A simple but strong opening to learn! - GM Roman Dzindzichashvili - 15 Min - the focus is on getting White an easy game using this opening. All of the lines that are examined give White a good advantage, or at least a comfortable position. This makes learning the English very easy, because we do not need to memorize a lot of different move orders.
The English Opening: How to Play The Symmetrical Variation 🎓 GM Damian Lemos - 30 Min - introduces you to the English Opening, specifically the Symmetrical Variation.
The English Opening - Chess Openings with GM Damian Lemos - 27 Min - he positional nature of the opening allows you to outplay your opponent by knowing key plans and ideas. If you’re willing to put in the work learning the English Opening, you’ll surely get rewarded.
The English Opening 💂A Complete System for White – IM Valeri Lilov (The Chess World) - 25 Min - examines a game from Yasser Seirawan in order to explain the core concepts behind the opening.
Win with The Botvinnik System in The English Opening ⚔ IM Valeri Lilov - 18 Min - analyzes a game that was played between the very well known GM Yasser Seirawan vs GM Milan Vukic in 1979.
The English Opening | Basic Plans, Ideas & Strategies | Chess Openings | IM Andrey Ostrovskiy - 28 min - IM Andrey Ostrovskiy is sharing with you some of the major ideas and plans in the English Opening.
Reversed Sicilian - Discussion with GM Pavel Eljanov - 77 Min
The English Opening - Chess Openings Explained - 48 Min ST. Louis CC
The English | Responding to c4 - GM Yasser Seirawan - 2014.02.06 - 32 Min
GRANDMASTER EXPLAINS: The English Opening - 46 Min - GM Eric Hansen -features a grandmaster discussing the English Opening in chess, sharing personal anecdotes, and engaging with viewers. The grandmaster reminisces about past experiences with other chess legends, analyzes various chess positions, and answers questions from the audience.
GM Eugene Perelshteyn teaches you how to play against the Symmetrical English! - 6 Min - teaches you how to play against Symmetrical English, specifically tricky a3 move. Learn cool traps and plans for Black!
GM Eugene Perelshteyn teaches you how to play the English Opening using concepts! - 14 Min - shares his own game vs 2350 opponent as a features game for Chess^summit website. Learn how he uses concept from his pet Accelerated Dragon and apply it to the English Opening!
Chess Opening Theory (English 4 Knights w/Bc5) (part1/2) - 33 Min IM William Paschall
Chess Opening Theory (English 4 Knights w/Bc5) (part2/2) - 33 min IM William Paschall
Opening Basics #10: English opening - Four knights variation - 20 Min
Chessbase India
English Opening - 55 Video Playlist - Chessbase India(Some of the Best Lessons from the Playlist Below)
- Sagar's English Love Part I | An introduction to the English Opening from White - 22 min
- Sagar's English Love Part II | Reversed Dragon with 8...a5 - 32 Min
- Sagar's English Love Part III | Reversed Dragon Main Line in English Opening - 36 Min
- World Junior Champion's Guide to the English Opening | 1.c4 for White | ft. GM Evgeny Shtembuliak - 86 min
English Opening Traps
- 7 Best Chess Opening Traps in the English Opening - 15 Min GM Igor Smirnov
- Powerful Chess Opening TRAP for White | Reversed Sicilian (Tiger's Trap) - 8 Min GM Igor Smirnov
- I fell for the same TRICKY ENGLISH DEFENSE TRAP twice - 15 Min Johnathan Schrantz
English Game Videos (w/Analysis)
English Opening - 173 Video Playlist -agadmantor (Famous Games)
English Opening - 240 Video Playlist - kingscrusher (Famous games)
English Opening - 128 Video playlist - Chess School (Famous Games and Lessons)
English Opening: M Carlsen vs J Polgar London 2012. - 13 Min
Magnus Carlsen's top secret English Opening Novelty unveiled against Anish Giri - 15 Min
English Opening (Botvinnik): Garry Kasparov vs Nigel Short - 10 Min
Bobby Fischer vs Boris Spassky, Game 8 - 1972 World Ch. English Opening - 8 Min
Wesley So vs Alexander Onischuk : US Championship (2017) · English Opening - 14 Min
Hikaru Nakamura vs Sergey Karjakin : Altibox Norway (2018): English Opening - 7 Min
English Opening Brilliancies Part 1 (Botvinnik-Levenfish 1940) - 20 Min IM William Paschall